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Occupational Therapy Major

Program and Career Description

Occupational therapy assistants (OTA) enjoy a satisfying, challenging and rewarding
career in helping patients of all ages develop, recover, and improve the skills needed
for daily living and working. Upon Completion of the Associate of Applied Science
Occupational Therapy Assistant Major, the OTA will work in partnership with and under
the direct supervision of a licensed occupational therapist in a variety of settings.
This program includes academic and fieldwork training over a two-year course of study.

Applications for the OTA program are accepted in the spring semester for the program
beginning the next fall.

Admission Requirements

The OTA program has specific admission requirements. To be considered for admission
you must:

Obtain regular admission status to the college.

Submit all official high school/college transcripts to the Admissions Office.

Complete all required learning support classes (if applicable) prior to applying to
the program.

Possess a high school and/or college overall GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Submit official ACT results if you have not earned credit in college level courses

Students accepted into the OTA program must complete Anatomy and Physiology I with
a grade of “C” or better no later than the summer before the student expects to begin
the program. BIOL 2010 -Anatomy and Physiology I must have been completed within
the five years before a student expects to begin the program.

Students are encouraged to complete all General Education courses prior to beginning
the Occupational Therapy Assistant program.

8 observation hours required in an occupational therapy department

Program Requirements

(Students may require additional Learning Support courses.)

ENGL 1010 English composition I

3 Credits

SPCH 1010 Fundamentals of Speech or SPCH 1112 Speech

3 Credits

BIOL 2010 Anatomy and Physiology I

4 Credits

PSYC 1030 General Psychology

3 Credits

Humanities Elective

3 Credits

OTA 1110 – Occupational Human Development

3 Credits

OTA 1120 – Exploring Occupation

3 Credits

OTA 1130 – Foundations of OT

2 Credits

OTA 1140 – OT Doc with Fieldwork A

2 Credits

OTA 1150 – Med Term for OT

1 Credit

OTA 1210 – Group Process and Dynamics

3 Credits

OTA 1220 – Challenges to Mental Health

3 Credits

OTA 1230 – Challenges to Physical Health

3 Credits

OTA 1240 –Human Movement for Occupation

3 Credits

OTA 1250 – Asst Tech and Env adaptation

3 Credits

OTA 1260 – OT Doc with Fieldwork B

2 Credits

OTA 2110 – OT Interv and Treat/Pediatric

2 Credits

OTA 2120 – OT Interv and Treat/Mental Health

3 Credits

OTA 2130- OT Interv and Treat/Adult

3 Credits

OTA 2140 – OT Interv and Treat/Geriatric

3 Credits

OTA 2150 – Management Skills for the OTA

2 Credits

OTA 2160 – Fieldwork C

1 Credit

OTA 2210 – Level II A

6 Credits

OTA 2220 – Level II B

6 Credits

Total Required – Associate’s Degree:

70 Credits

The Associate of Applied Science Occupational Therapy Assistant courses have prerequisites
and co-requisites.

Occupational Therapy Assistant students have a maximum of 12 months to complete the
Fieldwork Level II (internship) portion of their OTA education. This 12 month period
begins when a student is eligible to participate in Level II fieldwork. If a student
postpones their Level II fieldwork rotation, they must provide proof of hardship,
physician statement, and/or any other evidence deemed necessary. A plan outlining
the student to schedule or complete their Level II fieldwork experience must be approved
by the OTA faculty.

Note: Students accepted to the OTA program will be required to provide a copy of a criminal
background check prior to starting their first level I Fieldwork in the fall of the
first year of the program. JSCC does not use the background check as criteria for
admission to the program. Background checks are required by some clinical sites as
a condition of participation. Students are required to participate in a variety of
clinical experiences to successfully complete the program. If a student has questions
regarding the criminal background check, please call (731) 425-2612.

Sample Schedule

Fall, First Semester

Number

Course Name

Credits

OTA 1110

Occupational Human Development

3

OTA 1120

Exploring Occupation

3

OTA 1130

Foundations of Occupational Therapy

2

OTA 1140

OT Doc with FW A

2

PSYC 1030

General Psychology

3

ENGL 1010

English Composition I

3

OTA 1150

Med Term for OTA

1

Total Credits

17

Spring, Second Semester

Number

Course Name

Credits

OTA 1210

Group Processes and Dynamics

3

OTA 1220

Challenges to Mental Health

3

OTA 1230

Challenges to Physical Health

3

OTA 1240

Human Movement for Occupation

3

OTA 1250

Assistive Technology and Environmental Adaptation

3

OTA 1260

OT Doc with FW B

2

Total Credits

17

Summer, Third Semester

Number

Course Name

Credits

OTA 2110

Interv and Treat: Pediatric

2

SPCH 1010

Fundamentals of Speech

3

Humanities

3

Total Credits

8

Fall, Fourth Semester

Number

Course Name

Credits

OTA 2120

OT Mental Health Int. and Tx. Adult

3

OTA 2130

OT Int and Tx for the Physically Challenged Adult

3

OTA 2140

OT Interv and Treat / Geriatric

3

OTA 2150

Management Skills for the OTA

2

OTA 2160

Fieldwork C

1

Total Credits

12

Spring, Fifth Semester

Number

Course Name

Credits

OTA 2210

Fieldwork Level II A

6

OTA 2220

Fieldwork Level II B

6

Total Credits

12

Students are required to complete BIOL 2010 Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits) no
later than the summer before beginning the OTA Program.

Any of the non-OTA courses may be taken prior to applying to the program. This does
not, however, alter the above OTA specific course schedule once the student is accepted
into the program.